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Gatwick Airport operation may not reopen for British Airways

Published on : Sunday, May 3, 2020

British Airways has informed staff that its Gatwick airport operation may not reopen after the coronavirus pandemic passes.

BA’s Gatwick operation is currently suspended and is roughly a fifth as big as its Heathrow hub.

BA said it cannot rule out suspending the rest of its Heathrow operation as stated in a separate letter to pilots.

In the memo to Gatwick’s staff, the company mentioned that they are suspending their Gatwick flying schedule at the start of April and there is no certainty as to when or if these services can or will return.

BA notes that some of its rivals abroad are facing tough competition and a quarter of BA’s 4,300 pilots are set to lose their jobs.

BA wants to ensure that their remaining operation is efficient, flexible and cost-competitive to enable them to survive in an increasingly lean and unpredictable industry according to a letter from senior management.

BA had earlier announced that due to the collapse in business due to the Covid-19 lockdown it was to cut up 12,000 jobs from its 42,000-strong workforce.

IAG said it needed to impose a “restructuring and redundancy programme” until demand for air travel returns to 2019 levels.

While the pilots’ union Balpa said it was “devastated” and vowed to fight “every single” job cut.

Before merger BA has been flying from Gatwick for decades.

Initially the plane-makers and airline have been struggling to cope up with the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on their businesses,